On the 50th Anniversary of Mrs. Yuk's Passing, Visit to National Seoul Memorial Cemetery
President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee visited the burial site of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 15th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her passing, where they laid flowers and paid respects. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife visited the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery on the morning of the 15th to pay their respects at the grave of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo on the 50th anniversary of her passing.
Presidential Office spokesperson Jung Hye-jeon stated in a written briefing that day, "Upon hearing that a memorial service for the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo's passing was being held at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery at the same time as the Liberation Day celebration, they visited in advance."
President Yoon visited Mrs. Yuk Young-soo’s birthplace in Okcheon, Chungbuk, for the first time as a sitting president in February, and also paid respects there in August 2021 during his presidential primary campaign.
Upon arriving at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery, President Yoon and his wife walked up to the grave where Mrs. Yuk Young-soo is interred, guided by Director Kwon Dae-il of the cemetery. They met and exchanged greetings with Chairman Park Ji-man, a bereaved family member, who was waiting in front of the grave. After arriving at the grave, they laid flowers, offered incense, and observed a moment of silence to honor Mrs. Yuk Young-soo, who was known for her careful care of the underprivileged and children in the community.
After briefly looking around the grave, President Yoon walked down and shared a memorial moment with Chairman Park, saying, "I vividly remember the day Mrs. Yuk Young-soo passed away." First Lady Kim Keon-hee inquired about the well-being of Chairman Park’s family.
President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee are moving to pay their respects at the burial site of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo in the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 50th anniversary of her passing on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Before leaving after the memorial, President Yoon wrote in the guestbook, "We still do not forget Mrs. Yuk, who played the role of a kind mother to the people," honoring Mrs. Yuk Young-soo’s love and dedication to the nation.
Attending the memorial were Chairman Park Ji-man, Kim Won-bae, Chairman of the Yuk Young-soo Memorial Project Association, and directors Kim Jong-ho and Park Seon-min. From the Presidential Office, Chief of Staff Jung Jin-seok, National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, Policy Office Director Sung Tae-yoon, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Public Relations Lee Do-woon, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun, and Senior Secretary for Civil Society Jeon Gwang-sam, along with other senior aides, were present.
Additionally, President Yoon had a phone conversation with former President Park Geun-hye the previous afternoon. President Yoon first inquired about Park’s health and back pain. Former President Park replied that she was undergoing outpatient treatment and was not experiencing significant discomfort, and expressed gratitude for the Yoon couple’s visit to Mrs. Yuk Young-soo’s grave. She also expressed regret for not being able to attend the Seoul memorial site due to her planned visit to Okcheon, where Mrs. Yuk Young-soo’s birthplace is located.
Concluding the call, President Yoon said, "I am grateful that President Park always supports me," and added, "Once the heat subsides, I hope you will come to the official residence in Seoul so we can have a meal and I can seek your advice on state affairs."
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